More Trainers in Pipeline for Afghan Security Forces
By Gerry J. Gilmore American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2007
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The number of internationally supplied trainers for Afghanistan's soldiers and police is slated to quadruple, as the number and capabilities of those security forces continues to grow, a senior U.S. military officer told Pentagon reporters here yesterday.
Plans are to augment the 22 training teams already operating across Afghanistan with another 80 teams, Army Maj. Gen. Robert W. Cone, the commanding general of Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan, told reporters.
Boosting the number of qualified instructors that train Afghanistan's soldiers and police is among that country's key security-related needs, Cone said. Several nations provide personnel for the training teams, he said, noting that each team has about 16 people.
"My charter, with the leadership of the Ministry of Defense and the Afghan army, is to build a quality force that is capable of defending Afghanistan," said Cone, who has held his current command for about four months.
Afghan Minister of Defense Gen. Abdul Rahim Wardak accompanied Cone at the news conference. The two leaders are in Washington to confer with senior U.S. government officials.
The Afghan National Army has about 50,000 soldiers, Cone said. That force, he added, is slated to increase to 70,000 troops by the end of 2008. Training emphasis will now be shifted from individual instruction to the training of larger units like battalions and brigades, he said.
Cone is bullish about the progress of the Afghan National Army. Afghan soldiers, he pointed out, "are performing well in combat, fighting side-by-side with coalition forces."
"They are taking the lead in many combat operations," Cone said of Afghan military troops.
Wardak echoed Cone's compliments, noting Afghanistan's soldiers are doing a great job and are well-received by the citizenry. "The Afghan National Army has been one of the success stories of the last few years," Wardak said. "The ANA continues to develop and grow in confidence and professionalism."
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By Gerry J. Gilmore American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2007
Article Link
The number of internationally supplied trainers for Afghanistan's soldiers and police is slated to quadruple, as the number and capabilities of those security forces continues to grow, a senior U.S. military officer told Pentagon reporters here yesterday.
Plans are to augment the 22 training teams already operating across Afghanistan with another 80 teams, Army Maj. Gen. Robert W. Cone, the commanding general of Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan, told reporters.
Boosting the number of qualified instructors that train Afghanistan's soldiers and police is among that country's key security-related needs, Cone said. Several nations provide personnel for the training teams, he said, noting that each team has about 16 people.
"My charter, with the leadership of the Ministry of Defense and the Afghan army, is to build a quality force that is capable of defending Afghanistan," said Cone, who has held his current command for about four months.
Afghan Minister of Defense Gen. Abdul Rahim Wardak accompanied Cone at the news conference. The two leaders are in Washington to confer with senior U.S. government officials.
The Afghan National Army has about 50,000 soldiers, Cone said. That force, he added, is slated to increase to 70,000 troops by the end of 2008. Training emphasis will now be shifted from individual instruction to the training of larger units like battalions and brigades, he said.
Cone is bullish about the progress of the Afghan National Army. Afghan soldiers, he pointed out, "are performing well in combat, fighting side-by-side with coalition forces."
"They are taking the lead in many combat operations," Cone said of Afghan military troops.
Wardak echoed Cone's compliments, noting Afghanistan's soldiers are doing a great job and are well-received by the citizenry. "The Afghan National Army has been one of the success stories of the last few years," Wardak said. "The ANA continues to develop and grow in confidence and professionalism."
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